A 5K Worth Remebering

On Saturday (September 17th) my family and I ran a 5K race in Burleson, Texas, hosted by the St. Matthews Cumberland Presbyterian Church in sponsorship of a local food bank organziation called the Harvest House. We have run this particular race several times and enjoy it every year!

The really neat thing about our participation this year was that every member of our family received a trophy in our age categories for partricipation in the 5K race.

My Dad got 2nd place (with a time of 26.42), and my Mom got a Master's award for being the first female age 40 or over to finish (25.45)!!
Morelle got 2nd place in the 15 to 19 female division (27.28), Cora crossed 3rd place in the 15 to 19 division (29.36).  Elise got 1st place in the female 15 - 19 category beating both of her older sisters (her time was - 25.34)!
Unfortunately, Adelaide was placed in the male division. However she did very well and got 3rd place in the 14 and under division (25.52). Tella and Nahum also received trophies for getting 1st and 2nd place consecutively in their division (21.54 and 24.18). Another insteristing fact was that Tella was the 4th runner to cross the finish line!
This year was Laneah's first year to runner a 5K race, although we have been training and running this length for quite some time. She did very well and got 1st place in the 14 and under female's group. She was such a trooper and with her speed beat multiple girls older than her (including two of her older sisters!) Good job Laneah!

As a family we really enjoy running and are really looking forward to running a half-marathon in February of next year.  Although the training will be tough at times we are excited and cannot wait to complete this goal as a family!! I will be sure to keep you updated on how all of this progresses.

Scottsville Retreat: An Epic Event

On September 9th and 10th, around 50 Nazarene Teen Bible Quizzers from all over the Dallas district met together at our district campground in Scottsville for their quizzing year kick-off.  I was fortunate to be among these!
Friday around five pm. my family left Duncanville and traveled in our van for roughly 2 1/2 hours until we reached the campground. After arriving and settling in my sisters and I found the chapel and practiced the music that we be singing while leading worship that evening.

After we lead music and had a brief devotional all of the teens/coaches/parents/sponsors met in the gymbernacle (the gym/tabernacle).  After everyone had congregated Mr. Don Carter (coach/quiz master from RCN - Richardson Church of the Nazarene) lead us all in several get-to-know-each-other games.

The first one was called 'That Was Awkward.' The way the game works is that you pick an individual that you do not know and team up with him/her. You then stand several feet apart with your backs facing each other. On the count of three all players turn around and either motioned to hug, shake hands, or fist bump the individual facing you. This game is similar to rock-paper-scissors. Therefore, a hug beats a hand shake, which beats a fist bump, which beats a hug. Yes, it is confusing but it is also very fun!!

After that game we played several others before we headed back to the dorms for the 11:30 pm. curfew. The next morning breakfast was served at 7:30 so I woke at 6:15. After showering and getting ready we all headed up to the dining hall for breakfast.

Around 8:30 we met again in the gymbernacle and started the Memory Verse Marathon. This marathon is for individuals who have memorized all or some of the designated memory verses within our specific text of Hebrews and 1st and 2nd Peter.
Basically the way the marathon works is that it only includes questions taken from the memory verse material. The way you win is to quiz-out by getting 4 questions correct.

When the marathon was over we jumped right into the actual rounds of quizzing. In the Advanced division there were only three teams. Two from RCN - Richardson and one from Duncanville (consisting of Elsie, Adelaide, Myself and two of our friends Aisleen and Stephanie Harris).
Therefore, before lunch we only had 3 rounds of quizzing.  However, the Novice division had more rounds because they had more teams participating!

Around 3 pm. we finished up our rounds and once more gathered in the gymbernacle. Several minutes later we began the awards ceremony beginning with the Novice division. They recognized the top 10 individuals in Novice, the top 5 in Experienced and the top 3 teams in both divisions.



In the top 10 individuals in Novice my brother Tella received 3rd place and Joshua Tinsely from our church (who quizzed on Tella's team) got 6th place. Our Duncanville Novice Team also got 2nd place in their division! We are so proud of all of our up-and-coming 6th graders: Tella Cummins, Kayle Bowens, Joshua Tinsely and Sammy Calkins! They all have studied hard and are doing very well!!
In the Advanced division my sister Adelaide got 3rd place and I received 4th place!! Our team as well won 2nd place!!

We are all super excited as this new quiz year begins and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds. Please keep us all in your prayers as we endeavor to memorize and hide God's word in our hearts!!

 Blessings ~ Cora

A Day At School With Cora

Because I have been home-schooled my entire education attending Mountain View Community College has defiantly been a challenge for me. A year and a half ago I started attending there with my older sister Morelle. However, last May Morelle graduated with her AA degree and has since forth moved on to a complete higher education at Texas Womens University.

This semester though I have blessed to have my younger sister Elsie up at Mountain View with me. Although this is still our first week of class I can already say that it has been a delight having her! :)

On Tuesdays and Thursdays my school day begins at 6:15. My alarm goes off and I groggily get out of bed. After showering, dressing, and putting on make-up I only have 30 minutes till it is time to leave. Quickly I pack a lunch for Elsie and eat something on the way out the door.

At 8 o'clock my Biology class begins and I settle in for an hour and twenty minute lecture. Following that I go downstairs and complete any assigned labs with my friend Sarah Rice

When Biology is over I meet Elsie and together we hangout with our friends Sarah and Rebecca Rice for our brief break between classes. After saying goodbye to them we head downstairs to the 'dungeon'. I have dubbed this hallway as such because it often is dark and crowded.

Making our way through the congestive crowd we reach our Math class. Elsie and I have been fortunate to have a very kind and helpful math Professor named Becky Heiskell (pronounced with a slight accent as High-school). When this class is through we head down the hall for our next class from 12:30 - 1:50 - Spanish.

Even though this has only been our first week of class our Spanish Professor, Elsa Salina-Coronado has already plunged right into the proverbial meat of the course.
When this class is though I give Mom a call on my phone and shortly after she comes and picks us up!

Because this is still our first week of class some would think that you can't make a clear judgement of the semester. However, I disagree! For me first impressions are very important. All for of my Professors have posed very fair and genuine approaches to their subjects; and I believe whole-hardheartedly that this will be a good semester. Hopefully with great determination and perseverance I will succeeded in each of these subjects!

I also believe that it is the same for you.  If you are willing to do your very best and attempt the assignments given to you by your Teacher(s)/Professor(s) then in my opinion there is no room for failure. This is my prayer for you and hopefully yours as well! Have a blessed semester!!

 ~ Cora